the importance of being rectal!!!!

I would not stay in remission w/o the rowasa enemas as Asacol by itself would not do the trick (I have pancolitis) altough I haven't heard all UC starts in the rectum.

One important part of the oral meds is to prevent the spread of the disease up the colon. I don't know that just rectal meds would do that.

I think there would be a compliance issue. There already is one with oral meds - I don't feel sick, why take meds. I think patients are more likely to take oral meds when feeling well than they are to use the rectal meds. Who wants to stick stuff in your bum when you're feeling well??? Yes, there are those who would follow the directions - however, I think there are more that would not.

Good question!

It's more cut and dry with UC than with CD..

Oral meds for above the sigmoid...rectal meds for the rectum and sigmoid.

Comes in two med types....5ASA and steroid.


Pretty basic med regimen that most aren't willing to even try...and that includes the doctors.

I'd take any of the above than depending on pred....to me, that's the doctors' way of setting up their patients to fail with basic med regimens.

quincy

Is it definite it starts in the rectum? When I was first dx'd, I had all my ulcerations in my colon, none in my rectum. Now I only have them in my rectum...

recital meds always seem to make my UC worse and irritate my colon. When I have used them it makes my D and urgency worse. So my doctor stopped prescribing them and just wrote it off as not working for me and when ever I go to him with a mini flare or issue the first thing he always says is "well suppositories make it worse so lets stay away from that..." which makes me feel better not only that he remembers but he doesn't want to even try different kinds. But it does make it difficult because I only take oral meds, when its the lower part of my rectum that my last colonoscopy showed as being still damaged and inflamed.

Everyone is different, it depends upon exactly where in the colon your disease is active at the time and if your entire colon may be involved; for those that have pancolitis oral meds alone may not do the trick for the lower areas; the rowasa's have been a lifesaver for me vs. just the oral meds alone. I am in full agreement of treating the disease from both ends especially if the enitire colon is affected. I too had recent enema issues with regard to instertion, as my rectum was rejecting the tube only after the suggested BM; it appears that the rejection (sphincter spasm) may be caused by an old fissure acting up and I await an appt with my dr to confirm.

I don't have UC in my rectum and my doctor says its about 5% of People with UC who don't. So a small percentage.

I agree with pb4. I still have questions about my health issues I don't suppose will ever be answered to my satisfaction. Namely, I have a "thickening of the bowel wall" on the upper right side and have often felt pain and discomfort there while a scope would reveal most of the inflammation is on the left.

I haven't taken any rectal meds in years and have been in remission most of that time. I manage my disease with a maintenance dose of sulfasalazine, dietary manipulation (primarily avoiding gluten and dairy), natural supplements, exercise and rest. That's what works for me, personally.